This volume is the proceedings of the fifth Sea Power Conference, held in Sydney over 29-31 January 2008. Australia faces a complex security environment that is predominantly maritime in nature; the rise of China and India; tensions and potential conflict between Australia's major trading partners in Northeast Asia; congested sea lanes and unresolved maritime boundaries in Southeast Asia; the growing importance of the Indian Ocean; and extensive Australian interests in the Southern Ocean and Antarctica. In order to meet these challenges, cooperation is essential both regionally and globally, and for the RAN in particular, the impact on future roles, mission and structure; its contribution to Border Protection Command; and the role of the Australian Hydrographic Service.
